Green Collar Farming Series Begins May 4 at Randolph Community College

Randolph Community College will be offering a Green Collar Farming Series, beginning with a Small Farm Structures class to start on May 4.

The Small Farm Structures class will be taught by Jerry Hackney, who has more than 15 years of teaching experience in agriculture, and will include an emphasis on green construction methods. The class will be held at the Asheboro Campus Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:30-9:30 p.m., May 4 through June 17.

The class will culminate with four days of hands-on work and the actual construction of a small farm structure on Saturdays from 1 to 5 p.m. on June 19 and 26 and July 10 and 17. Cost for the class is $176.25, and students will need to supply their own gloves, measuring tape and safety glasses. Topics to be covered include site selection, construction basics, platform and pole barn construction, roofing and exteriors, electrical systems, and plumbing.

Other classes to be offered in the future as part of the Green Collar Farming Series include Basic Farm Maintenance, the Fundamentals of Aquaculture, Small Greenhouse Construction, Small Poultry House/Chicken Coop Construction, and Raising Backyard Chickens.

Kelly Heath, director of occupational extension for RCC, said the series is part of an increased effort on the part of the College to help community members become more energy efficient and expand their green footprint. For more information about the Small Farm Structures class or the entire series, contact Kelly Heath at 336-633-0275 or kwheath@randolph.edu.